Sonoma County Farmers Markets

There’s a reason Sonoma County is famed for its agricultural bounty, as you’ll see when you explore the region’s many farmers’ markets and discover the infinite variety of local produce, artisan specialties and heirloom treasures.

Then the apples appear on the rees, starting with Sebastopol’s famed Gravenstein variety with its tart, juicy flavor. Before you know it, berries are plentiful, and then the summer stone fruits arrive, in a bounty of apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums. Soon, gardens brim with near-endless zukes and cukes, and vines grow heavy with tomatoes that might be red or yellow or green or even black.

Just as this cornucopia fades away, another spills over in squash and melons and corn and pumpkins, nuts and grapes and beans. Even in the quietest days of winter, you can relish an abundance of local broccoli and bok choy and lettuces, chard and endive and mushrooms.

Although the farmers’ markets center around locally grown produce, they offer far more for a discerning palate and community minded clientele. People come to buy a juicy peach or a mouthwatering tomato, but also a fresh-baked red velvet cupcake from Crumb Hither Gourmet Cupcakes and Specialty Baking of Santa Rosa, or handcrafted pancetta from Franco’s One World Sausage Co. of Healdsburg.

They seek out seedlings and flowers from Daffodils, Dalhias and Lilies Oh My of Santa Rosa, and custom chicken houses from California Coops of Fulton. They swoon over beautiful hand carved wood bowls from By the Elvin Moon of Petaluma, and stock up on fresh roasted coffee and beans from Run Around Brew of Sebastopol.

Locals and visitors also love Sonoma County farmers’ markets as delightful places to meet their friends and hang out, listen to live music from homegrown talent like the Chicory Almond band, or just watch the world go by. These are wonderfu

For each unique experience, one thing unites most of the destinations – they are Certified Farmers’ Markets, meaning vendors are required to produce their own products (no trucked in merchandise here!).

Some markets operate from spring and into fall, while some run year-round. You know you want to go, so here’s how to do it.

Here’s a list of the farmers markets in Sonoma County, with all dates, times and addresses (updated for 2016):